Nov 09 2009
BCS Game Projections for Nov. 9
Southeastern: #1 Florida (9-0)
The Gators remain number one thanks to a workmanlike win at Vanderbilt (2-8), 27-3. Florida wasn’t impressive but did enough to stay on course toward the BCS. The Gators conclude SEC play Saturday in Columbia against South Carolina (6-4).
Florida’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: At South Carolina
Nov. 21: Home vs. Florida International
Nov. 28: Home vs. Florida State
Dec. 5: SEC Championship Game vs. Alabama in Atlanta
Automatic At-Large: #2 Alabama (9-0)
The Crimson Tide trailed #8 LSU by five points after three periods but dominated the last quarter. Alabama scored the game’s last 14 points to prevail, 24-15. Pollsters and computers were impressed. LSU rose from ninth to eighth in the standings despite the loss. Alabama returned to the second spot and a place in the BCS title game. With the win, the Tide clinched the SEC West crown and a place against Florida in the SEC Championship Game next month. Now is not the time to get complacent though as Alabama visits Mississippi State (4-5) Saturday.
Alabama’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: At Mississippi State
Nov. 21: Home vs. Chattanooga
Nov. 27: At Auburn
Dec. 5: SEC Championship Game vs. Florida in Atlanta
Big 12: #3 Texas (9-0)
The Longhorns struggled for a half against Central Florida (5-4) but pulling away in the second half and winning comfortably, 35-3. Nonetheless, Texas slid to third in this week’s BCS standings. Texas and Alabama continue to trade the #2 and #3 positions. The Longhorns still have a great chance to finish the regular season in the top two since Florida and Alabama must play against each other. Before then, Texas needs to win at Baylor (4-5).
Texas’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: At Baylor
Nov. 21: Home vs. Kansas
Nov. 26: At Texas A&M
Mountain West: #4 Texas Christian (9-0)
The Horned Frogs crushed host San Diego State (4-5) Saturday, 55-12. The biggest game in memory for TCU is Saturday when #16 Utah (8-1) visits Fort Worth. The Frogs’ last two opponents are a combined 4-14. Win this week and both a conference title and a BCS berth are in sight. Possibly even a shot at the national championship.
Texas Christian’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: Home vs. Utah
Nov. 21: At Wyoming
Nov. 28: Home vs. New Mexico
Big East: #5 Cincinnati (9-0)
The good news: The Bearcats held off game Connecticut (4-5), 47-45, last week. The bad news: Voters jumped TCU over Cincinnati due to the two-point home win over a team that hasn’t won since starting cornerback Jasper Howard was murdered. The Bearcats get two opportunities to impress pollsters and computers though. The first comes Saturday when #25 West Virginia (7-2) visits. Most squads don’t have two top-25 opponents left on their schedules. Cincinnati could still reach the BCS title game.
Cincinnati’s remaining schedule
Nov. 13: Home vs. West Virginia
Nov. 27: Home vs. Illinois
Dec. 5: At Pittsburgh
Atlantic Coast: #7 Georgia Tech (9-1)
The Yellow Jackets squeaked past guest Wake Forest (4-6), 30-27, in overtime. Despite the close call, Georgia Tech rose three spots in the BCS standings. The Yellow Jackets are now the top one-loss team. If GT wins in Durham against Duke (5-4), it will clinch the ACC Coastal Division championship.
Georgia Tech’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: At Duke
Nov. 28: Home vs. Georgia
At-Large: #9 USC (7-2)
The Trojans were not dominant in their 14-9 victory at Arizona State (4-5). In particular, the offense was sluggish. However, USC did win which is more than can be said for many teams just above it last week. Therefore, the Trojans gained three spots in this week’s standings. USC finishes the 2009 campaign with a three-game homestand. The first contest is against Stanford (6-3) which is ranked #25 in Sunday’s Associated Press poll. The Cardinal hasn’t been ranked since the 2001 final poll. The Trojans surely haven’t forgotten the monumental 24-23 upset at the L.A. Coliseum to a 42-point underdog Stanford squad in 2007.
USC’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: Home vs. Stanford
Nov. 28: Home vs. UCLA
Dec. 5: Home vs. Arizona
Big Ten: #10 Iowa (9-1)
Ricky Stanzi injured his ankle in the second quarter Saturday against Northwestern (6-4). When he left, the Hawkeyes’ hopes for an undefeated regular season went with him. Iowa lost at home, 17-10. The Hawkeyes must regroup because they are still tied for first in the conference. That’ll change after Saturday since Iowa visits co-leader Ohio State. If the Hawkeyes beat the Buckeyes, they go to the Rose Bowl.
Iowa’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: At Ohio State
Nov. 21: Home vs. Minnesota
At-Large: #11 Ohio State (8-2)
The Buckeyes recovered their BCS hopes and regained a share of the conference lead by winning in Happy Valley against #18 Penn State (8-2), 24-7. Terrelle Pryor simply outplayed Darryl Clark in the quarterback duel. OSU hosts Iowa Saturday in a game that will determine the Big Ten champion.
Ohio State’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: Home vs. Iowa
Nov. 21: At Michigan
Pacific-10: #13 Oregon (7-2)
The Ducks slipped badly at Stanford Saturday. Oregon trailed by 20 points in the fourth quarter. The Ducks got as close as six points in the final minutes but lost, 51-42. Oregon still has a half-game conference lead over #17 Arizona (6-2) but must visit Tucson next weekend. First, the Ducks can’t afford another misstep, this time against guest Arizona State (4-5).
Oregon’s remaining schedule
Nov. 14: Home vs. Arizona State
Nov. 21: At Arizona
Dec. 3: Home vs. Oregon State
The other teams in the at-large pool are:
#6 Boise State (9-0), Western Athletic
#8 Louisiana State (7-2), SEC
#12 Pittsburgh (8-1), Big East
#14 Miami (7-2), ACC
As projected now, the BCS Championship Game would pit Florida against Alabama. Iowa and Oregon are still slated to meet in the Rose Bowl despite both losing Saturday. The Sugar Bowl would pick Ohio State to replace the SEC squads. Since there are already two SEC teams, LSU is now ineligible.
The Sugar Bowl would then choose Cincinnati to avoid a USC-Ohio State rematch. The Trojans would be left for the Orange Bowl. Finally, TCU comes to the Fiesta Bowl. The BCS game projections for Nov. 9 are as follows:
BCS Championship: Florida vs. Alabama
Rose: Iowa vs. Oregon
Sugar: Cincinnati vs. Ohio State
Fiesta: Texas vs. Texas Christian
Orange: Georgia Tech vs. USC
